Visitors to Boulder High School this Halloween season are in for a chilling experience as the theater department presents its haunted house, titled “Shipwreck of Souls.” From October 28, 2023, guests will navigate through an eerie underwater theme, featuring everything from haunting sirens to ghostly sailors.
The production is a collaborative effort led by students, showcasing their creativity and dedication. Co-director Mads Cass, a junior at Boulder High, emphasized the significant labor and passion that went into the event. “You can tell that a lot of work and a lot of love was put into it,” she noted.
Student-Driven Creativity Takes Center Stage
The haunted house has become a staple of the fall season at Boulder High, allowing about 40 students to engage as actors and technicians. According to Paul Mealey, the technical director and a former participant, the project is “student-run, adult-supervised.” Before the opening night, Mealey encouraged the students to remember the purpose of the event: to create an enjoyable experience, filled with scares and laughter.
Each year, the students select a new theme, ensuring returning visitors encounter a fresh experience. This year’s concept draws from senior Scarlett Caste‘s personal fear of fish. “I’m terrified of fish,” she admitted. The haunted house is set in the 1920s, transporting guests aboard a sunken cruise ship where they can explore various rooms, including a casino and a ballroom.
To bring this underwater world to life, students have constructed intricate sets filled with barnacles, tentacles, and seaweed. One room features a tilted floor designed to give visitors a “seasick” sensation as they walk through.
Immersive Experience Awaits Guests
As attendees journey through the haunted ship, they will encounter the sounds of crashing waves paired with period-appropriate music. Actors dressed as grotesque sea creatures roam the space, complete with wet-look gel in their hair and fake blood for added realism. Junior Odalis Torres, who leads the makeup team, remarked, “Nothing in the haunted house has not been touched by blood.”
The reactions from guests vary widely, according to senior Darin Williams, who has taken on the role of a bartender in the ship’s speakeasy this year after portraying a bloody rabbit in last year’s production. He observed that while some visitors scream in terror, others attempt to maintain a calm demeanor, despite their evident fear.
“Shipwreck of Souls” will be open from 19:00 to 22:00 on Saturday, October 28, and from 18:00 to 21:00 on Halloween. Additionally, a “lights on” version, designed to be less frightening, will be available at 18:00 on Saturday. Tickets can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/3ktx638r or at the door, with proceeds benefiting the Boulder High theater department.
This event not only highlights the creativity of the students but also fosters community engagement, providing a thrilling experience for all who dare to enter.
